Prospect Info: Traverse City Tournament 2013

[chosen]

Fast and Lindberg will both be top 6 fwds in the NHL in the future. Mark my words, been preaching this for a long time. But the real question is if they both will be Rangers at that point. I can see them being dealt to acquire pieces by Don Sather in a win now mode. Interesting times ahead...

Being a top 6 forward on a Cup contender is hugely different than being a top 6 forward on a bad team.

 

[BBKers]

Being a top 6 forward on a Cup contender is hugely different than being a top 6 forward on a bad team.

Your point being?

 

[Jabroni]

Wasn't Oscar Lindberg projected to be a good 4th line, defensively responsible center, with a chance to be a 3rd liner?

From what I heard he's been developing nicely.

 

[BBKers]

Wasn't Oscar Lindberg projected to be a good 4th line, defensively responsible center, with a chance to be a 3rd liner?

From what I heard he's been developing nicely.

Lindberg is a 21 yo sleeper to make the Swedish Olympic team - given as a spare (as is Hagelin). That should about sum up where his potential lies..

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Lindberg is a 21 yo sleeper to make the Swedish Olympic team - given as a spare (as is Hagelin). That should about sum up where his potential lies..

Ethan who? Sometimes you strike gold with a prospect like McD and sometimes you dont like a Huge Specimen. I think that Nieves will trend like Lindberg modestly. How about Kristo? Its good that we have about 6 F who will push the vets. If any combo of 2-3 have an impact this season, we're looking alright especially next year when a load of choady contracts come off the books and these young guys can get penciled in at nice RFA rates. I dont think ive ever been this excited about the pipeline before.

 

[BBKers]

Ethan who? Sometimes you strike gold with a prospect like McD and sometimes you dont like a Huge Specimen. I think that Nieves will trend like Lindberg modestly. How about Kristo? Its good that we have about 6 F who will push the vets. If any combo of 2-3 have an impact this season, we're looking alright especially next year when a load of choady contracts come off the books and these young guys can get penciled in at nice RFA rates. I dont think ive ever been this excited about the pipeline before.

Werek was a headcase. Heard it firsthand from a teammate.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Traverse City is on about the ECHL level. It's different because these kids are (often) more talented and (always) much less experienced, but if you play well in Traverse, odds are pretty good that you can play in the ECHL. If you dominate at Traverse, you can play in at least the AHL, maybe the NHL. If you are having a hard time in Traverse, it's a sign that you are nowhere near ready for pro hockey at any level.

I would agree. Seeking you opinion, my brother played club at UMO which is prob about D3 level, we went to an ECHL game and he contends that the level of play deosnt stack up against better NCAA teams but close. Thoughts?

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Werek was a headcase. Heard it firsthand from a teammate.

I remember watching the highlights from a Kingston game during the playoffs right before Werek got traded. He had a rough shift and in the corner of the screen you could see him get on the bench and flip his ****, knocking over the stick rack.

 

[Beacon]

I would agree. Seeking you opinion, my brother played club at UMO which is prob about D3 level, we went to an ECHL game and he contends that the level of play deosnt stack up against better NCAA teams but close. Thoughts?

Most ECHLers are former D1 players or from the similar-level CHL hockey. I would say it is a safe bet that an ECHL team defeats a D3 team.

The top D1 teams are about equal to the ECHL. D1 would be more top-heavy, ECHL would be deeper and more experienced, but overall the two would probably play competitive hockey. The lower-end D1 teams eould lose to ECHL squads.

 

[Ola]

This has become sort of a KLF thread. The more I watch Fasth, the more I see him being a better bottom 6 guy at some point this season compared to the option we currently have. If we are rolling on 9/3, he can definitely find ways to make thing happen.

I don't have the best track of Kristo, but my take so far is that Kristo is a little more of a high maintainance player and probably competes for quite alot "fewer" spots than Fast. Kristo has obviously grown into the role of being a goto scorer/franchise player in College. He has picked up alot of abilities that are very valueble and rare in the process. In the NHL, he is going to have to find away to contribute while being say 5th - 7th on the deptchart of forwards. That is a transition in itself. Many players have made that transiton, guys like Versteeg, Jarret Stoll and several others. But if often takes some time and he got some work left to get there. Fast is more in the Hagelin mold who just can hit the ice and go.

Fast hasn't dominated on the scoreboard atleast so far, but I think -- to be perfectly honest -- that is more about Gernander being clueless than Fast not getting it done. As it is now he is playing out of position on a line with a, not necessary in a negative way, puck-hog in Kristo and a dominating center in Lindberg.

Fast could definitely alone carry a line at this level, and if Gernander split him up and put him at RW with like Duclair and St Croix, we would have two dominating lines instead of one. But it is what it is.

Also re the roster, I think we are good up front but have a weak blueline.

 

[Raspewtin]

I don't have the best track of Kristo, but my take so far is that Kristo is a little more of a high maintainance player and probably competes for quite alot "fewer" spots than Fast.

Fast hasn't dominated on the scoreboard atleast so far, but I think -- to be perfectly honest -- that is more about Gernander being clueless than Fast not getting it done. As it is now he is playing out of position on a line with a, not necessary in a negative way, puck-hog in Kristo and a dominating center in Lindberg.

Fast could definitely alone carry a line at this level, and if Gernander split him up and put him at RW with like Duclair and St Croix, we would have two dominating lines instead of one. But it is what it is.

Also re the roster, I think we are good up front but have a weak blueline.

I thought he'd be good on a line with Duclair. Too much speed to handle

 

[ncmike]

So calling them offensive threats was meant to be interpreted as "offensive threats against scrubs?" I wasn't trying to argue, I was trying to point out that expectations need to be tempered and the circumstances need to be taken into account.

You realize that Lindberg and Kristo aren't Nieves, right? They're not going to be playing NCAA for the next 3-4 years, these guys are on the shortlist of NHL callups. It would be a complete travesty if they weren't performing. Nothing about them producing against kids makes them offensive threats in situations that actually matter, as likely NHL callups.

These guys producing against kids and scrubs and celebrating it, is like celebrating that the sky is blue. This isn't contentious at all and I'm honestly confused by the fact that I have to explain it.

It was raining all week, so I'm actually celebrating that I see blue skies today!!!

 

[Tawnos]

Window wise, we're not so hard pressed that they won't get a shot to prove themselves. It's just a question of whether they're able to crack the current top 6, any top 6 within their first partial season and presumably a full season. With Cally out and Hagelin out and with our need for a top 6 LW*, Kristo and Fasth (Fasth being listed as RW/LW) has a better opportunity than what others have had in the past and certainly better than what centers and defensemen will have in the next few years.

The thing I'm so incredibly psyched for is the clean slate that everyone will have. The extra push for the player's sake, the team's sake, and their career's sake. Reformulate everything!

Given that AV apparently likes speedy wingers, Fasth should be able to find a role on the team esp. with LW/RW. It's just the question of whether he's physical enough and ready for the defensive side and other aspects of the NHL game.

I know I'm kinda responding to a point you weren't making, but windows shouldn't have anything to do with guys getting shots. Look at Saad, Shaw. If these guys are better options than vets we have, the vets sit, get waived or get moved.

 

[Vitto79]

we all know regardless of how Richards does this yr he will get bought out next so it leaves Stepan, Brassard then some spots for Lindberg, Miller

Boyle should be gone too. Moore is a UFA. So opportunity will knock for Lindberg soon

 

[eco's bones]

Lindberg at least to me looks to be a step above both Fast and Kristo. Just more of an overall game and better size. He's the most projectable to play for the Rangers this year and make some kind of real impact.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

I love that Versteeg comparison to Kristo. Obviously Kristo is more of a scorer, but I see their roles in the NHL being similar.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I don't have the best track of Kristo, but my take so far is that Kristo is a little more of a high maintainance player and probably competes for quite alot "fewer" spots than Fast. Kristo has obviously grown into the role of being a goto scorer/franchise player in College. He has picked up alot of abilities that are very valueble and rare in the process. In the NHL, he is going to have to find away to contribute while being say 5th - 7th on the deptchart of forwards. That is a transition in itself. Many players have made that transiton, guys like Versteeg, Jarret Stoll and several others. But if often takes some time and he got some work left to get there. Fast is more in the Hagelin mold who just can hit the ice and go.

Fast hasn't dominated on the scoreboard atleast so far, but I think -- to be perfectly honest -- that is more about Gernander being clueless than Fast not getting it done. As it is now he is playing out of position on a line with a, not necessary in a negative way, puck-hog in Kristo and a dominating center in Lindberg.

Fast could definitely alone carry a line at this level, and if Gernander split him up and put him at RW with like Duclair and St Croix, we would have two dominating lines instead of one. But it is what it is.

Also re the roster, I think we are good up front but have a weak blueline.

I was thinking the same thing about Fast, Ola. Why the heck doesn't Gernander have him on his natural side to the right of MSC? Creates two scoring lines, both of which are better set up to perform well (as opposed to one overloaded top line with one of the forwards somewhat marginalized by playing out of position, followed by 3 much weaker lines). Seems like a no-brainer to me...

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Kristo - Boyle - Miller

The Tunnel-Vision Line.

 

[Tawnos]

I was thinking the same thing about Fast, Ola. Why the heck doesn't Gernander have him on his natural side to the right of MSC? Creates two scoring lines, both of which are better set up to perform well (as opposed to one overloaded top line with one of the forwards somewhat marginalized by playing out of position, followed by 3 much weaker lines). Seems like a no-brainer to me...

Not that it's doing them much good, because the group of D is below mediocre, but short tournaments are easier to win when you create one super line.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

I love that Versteeg comparison to Kristo. Obviously Kristo is more of a scorer, but I see their roles in the NHL being similar.

I don't Versteeg is a turnover machine.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Ohh gotcha. I'm not morose. I'm glad they're both performing well. I just don't think beating on a bunch of 18 year olds makes them even close to NHL ready... I like to temper expectations, because well I'm a Rangers fan and I know better.

Thattaboy! Spoken like a true, longtime, objective(if slightly negative) Rangers fan!

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Your point being?

Probably that it's a little early to annoint them as "top 6 NHL players!".

 

[Thirty One]

Probably that it's a little early to annoint them as "top 6 NHL players!".

Has anyone does this?

 

[chosen]

Your point being?

I thought it was clear.

Being a 2nd line player on a bad team is nothing worth looking forward to.

Looking forward to a top 6 forward on a good team is.

I have no idea what either of these two players will become because I have never seen them. Hopefully they are good enough to keep as Rangers.

Also, considering that top scouts are often wrong, putting any faith in a post by a fan would be a stretch. Nothing personal.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

I don't Versteeg is a turnover machine.

Loving the comparisons /= being happy about it.

He's a very similar player to Versteeg.